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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-004-18Clarftwn Community Services Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Report To: General Government Committee Date of Meeting: March 26, 2018 Report Number: CSD -004-18 File Number: Report Subject: 2017 Year End Review Recommendation: Resolution: GG -172-18 By-law Number: That Report CSD -004-18 be received for information. Municipality of Clarington Report CSD -004-18 Report Overview Paae 2 The Community Services Department is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating municipal recreation and leisure programs, community development and facilities operations. This report provides an overview of initiatives and activities that the Recreation and Facility Services Divisions were involved in during 2017. 1. Recreation Services Division 1.1 The Municipality of Clarington is committed to providing recreational opportunities for a growing and diverse community. The Community Services Department, together with community partners, provide a variety of fun and accessible programs and services in a welcoming, safe environment. 1.2 The Community Services Department, with the effort of a transition team representing a number of departments including Information Technology (Corporate Services), Finance, Operations, and Communications & Tourism (GAO's Office), successfully launched a new cloud based online registration platform — Active Net — for our recreation programs, services and facility rentals in August 2017. Initial feedback from the public has been positive and staff will continue to work to continually improve the client experience. 1.3 Following the implementation, a cross -departmental committee was struck with representation from the departments as listed above in order to maintain communication and proactively implement processes to improve efficiencies, review performance and prioritize a roll out of software enhancements. 1.4 The next five sections provide a snapshot of the activities offered throughout the year directly by the Recreation Services Division as well as provide an update on Community Development activities and special events. 2. Aquatic Section 2.1 The Municipality operates three indoor aquatic facilities (Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre, Courtice Community Complex and the Diane Hamre Recreation Complex). These facilities operate year round seven days a week and offer a wide variety of recreational swimming and aquatic instructional programs for the community. Additionally, there is a seasonal outdoor pool (Orono Park Pool) which operates daily for recreational swimming for both the community and municipal camp programs. 2.2 The Aquatic Division provides a number of part time job opportunities and currently employs 86 staff, the majority of which are students and young adults. These positions offer employees valuable skills and experience in areas such as customer service, health and safety, interacting with the public, conflict resolution, and responding to emergency situations. Aquatic staff are required to achieve and maintain, on average, Municipality of Clarington Resort CSD -004-18 Paae 3 six certifications for employment. Upon hire, staff undergo intensive training (25-30 hours) and complete quarterly in-service training throughout the year. Instructional Aquatic Programs 2.3 Community Services currently offers 80 hours of aquatic instructional programming each week between all three pools. Weekly programming includes preschool/youth/adult swimming lessons, private and semi -private lessons, aquafit, lifesaving, and leadership. Additionally, the Department offers a large variety of advanced aquatic programs, including first aid, swimming instructor, and lifeguard courses. 2.4 Registered aquatic programs are very popular and in high demand. Registrations continue to grow each year. In 2017, approximately 10,023 individuals participated in registered programs. Staff are continuously monitoring registrations and demand in order to increase opportunities for residents to participate in swimming programs. Aquatic Program Registration Statistics (Swimming Lessons) Pool 2015 2016 2017 Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre 314* 1,295 1,207 Courtice Community Complex 3,296 3,516 3,930 Diane Hamre Recreation Complex 4,343 4,384 4,886 Total Number of Users 7,953 9,195 10,023 * Fall Session only. Facility re -opened in September 2015 after renovation. Recreational Swimming 2.5 Recreational swimming remains a popular and affordable activity for all ages. On average, the Municipality offers 110 hours of public, adult and lane swimming each week. Depending on the facility, swims are offered as early as 6:00 a.m. and run until 9:30 p.m. daily. This allows residents the opportunity to participate at a municipal pool, at a time that best suits their needs and schedule. 2.6 In January 2017, the Community Services Department solicited feedback from residents on their swimming usage, satisfaction, and future needs. This was done through an on- line and paper survey. Responses were categorized and requests for increased levels of service were ranked according to need and by facility. As a result, three additional swims (one at each indoor facility) were added to the Fall 2017 swimming schedule. New swims have been well received and well used by residents. Many swimmers Municipality of Clarington Resort CSD -004-18 expressed gratitude that their feedback was requested and used in creating new opportunities for them to use the pools. Recreational Swimming Participant Statistics Paae 4 Pool 2015 2016 2017 Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre 4,964* 15,795 15,103 Courtice Community Complex 31,845 37,696 36,160 Diane Hamre Recreation Complex 53,719 50,140 50,128 Orono Park Pool 4,509 5,255 4,001 Total Number of Users 95,037 108,886 105,383 * Fall Session only. Facility re -opened in September 2015 after renovation. 3. Fitness Section 3.1 The Community Services Department offers fitness programs and activities at several municipal recreation facilities. The Fitness Training Centre is located within the Courtice Community Complex and is a fully equipped fitness facility. Group fitness programs are offered at the Courtice Community Complex, Diane Hamre Recreation Complex, Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre, South Courtice Arena, Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, Bowmanville Indoor Soccer facility, and the Kendal Community Centre. All fitness programs and activities are conducted by Certified Fitness professionals. Courtice Fitness Training Centre 3.2 The Courtice Fitness Training Centre is open to members and drop-in participants seven days a week. There is a variety of strength and cardio machines, as well as weight/functional equipment for participants to use. Other programs and services available include group fitness classes, one-on-one, and small group personal training. Group Fitness 3.3 Group fitness continues to grow in popularity. Fitness programs are available to members, registered, and drop-in participants. The Fitness Division monitors industry trends and participant feedback when planning future programs and locations. Currently group fitness classes are offered at the Courtice Community Complex, Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre, Diane Hamre Recreation Complex, Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, South Courtice Arena, and Kendal Community Hall. Municipality of Clarington Report CSD -004-18 Page 5 Active Living Memberships 3.4 The Community Services Department provides a variety of memberships to meet the range of needs of Clarington residents. Memberships include Swim/Skate, Squash, Group Fitness, and Fitness (Basic and Plus options). Membership terms vary depending on the type purchased, with options such as Annual, 3 month, and 6 month. Membership Retention and Club 150 3.5 The Fitness Division offers programs throughout the year to keep members accountable for their own fitness and encourage membership retention. "Club 150" is a tracking program that assists participants in planning and tracking their daily, weekly and monthly goals in minutes of physical fitness. Studies show 150 is the total minutes of physical activity recommended weekly for gaining and maintaining optimal physical fitness, and individuals with clear, written goals are significantly more likely to succeed. Other popular activities offered by the Division include Amazing Race and Race Across Canada. Staff continue to help participants achieve their goals, encourage member retention and increase participation on a monthly basis. 4. Recreation Programming Section 4.1 The Community Services Department offers recreation programs and camps at various municipal recreation facilities, local schools, and park locations throughout Clarington. The recreation programs service all age groups. Residents have options for registered programs, weekly drop -ins, pay -as -you -play, and free programs. 4.2 The Recreation Division employs 98 part time recreation staff annually. The staff team is made up primarily of high school, college, and university students. All recreation staff take part in seasonal training, including health and safety, WHMIS, customer service, leadership, program planning, accessibility, and many other topics. 4.3 Many of the employees within the recreation section are first time job seekers. The Municipality has the opportunity to assist these young adults in gaining and developing skills that will benefit them for years to come. Summer Camps 4.4 For a number of years, the Community Services Department has offered summer camp programs to our residents. These camps serve a wide range of children and youth from 4 to 16 years of age. In 2017, there were a variety of camp opportunities including; Leadership Camp, Counsellor in Training, Trip Camp, Sports Camp, Road Hockey Camp, Kinder Camp, Arts Camp, Eco Camp, Junior Chef Camp, French Camp, Dodgeball Camp, Soccer Camp, Ice Hockey Camp, Outdoor Adventure Camp and new additions in 2017 were Fishing Camp, Youth on the Go Camp, BMX & Scooter Camp, Computer Animation Camp and Xbox 360, and PC Video Game Creation Camp. Municipality of Clarington Resort CSD -004-18 Paae 6 Total Camp Registrations (including extended care registrations) 2068 2014 2015 2621 2016 2300 2017 2708 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 *Please note 2015 had 10 weeks of camp, all others had 9 weeks 4.5 Camp programs continue to accommodate as many individuals in the Municipality as possible and the Department continues to revise and diversify camp opportunities each year, achieving the underlying goal of providing quality programs at a reasonable fee. 4.6 In the summer of 2017, Community Services employed a total of 40 students as camp supervisors and counsellors. They brought a wide range of knowledge, experience, leadership, and enthusiasm to the team. All staff received over 40 hours of pre -camp training in leadership development, team building, health and safety, customer service, program planning, behaviour management, conflict resolution, risk management, and administrative responsibilities. They were also required to be certified in the High 5 Principles of Healthy Child Development, Standard First Aid and CPR "C" as well as providing an acceptable Criminal Background Check. 4.7 Community Services partnered with the YMCA Early Years staff to continue in delivering a comprehensive Mobile Playground program to the community each week of the summer. YMCA Early Years and Community Services each committed one van and two staff. The Community Services staff delivered playground programs for children 6 to 12 years of age. The YMCA staff provided games and activities for children 0 to 6 years of age. The drop-in style programs offered a less structured option to our day camps for participants and caregivers. Municipality of Clarington Report CSD -004-18 Page 7 Public Skating 4.8 In 2017, Community Services had close to 11,000 participants attend our public skating programs throughout the Municipality. Facility 2017 Participants South Courtice Arena 6,239 Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex 2,832 Darlington Sports Centre 1,836 Total 10,907 Financial Assistance Program 4.9 The Community Services Department is committed to increasing access and participation in recreation activities among Clarington residents. Staff administer financial assistance through a variety of subsidy programs including Canadian Tire Jumpstart, Financial Assistance Program, and the Membership Access Program. 4.10 The Canadian Tire Jumpstart program was created by Canadian Tire Foundation for Families, and works in partnership with the Community Services Department. The program's goal is to provide financially disadvantaged children 4 to 18 years of age with the opportunity to participate in sports and recreation activities. 2017 saw a continued increase in the number of applicants and the amount of funding distributed to the residents of Clarington. 4.11 The Financial Assistance Program assists individuals or families currently receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program Income Support. They can apply for financial assistance of 50% of the program registration or membership fee. 4.12 The Membership Access Program (MAP) strives to increase recreation opportunities for individuals with a permanent disability. Clarington residents who meet the age criteria for facility memberships and who have a permanent disability are eligible for the MAP which provides a reduced fee for facility memberships. As this program relates to a permanent disability, once an individual is confirmed eligible this program remains available to them indefinitely; there is no re-application process. 5. Community Development Section 5.1 Community Development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people by providing them with the skills they need to effect change in their own communities. Everyone can take part in the issues that affect their lives. It starts from the principle that within any community there is a wealth of knowledge and experience which, if used Municipality of Clarington Report CSD -004-18 Page 8 in creative ways, can be channelled into collective action to achieve the communities' desired goals. 5.2 Volunteers have a real impact in our community. They lead local boards, sports organizations and plan events. Volunteers are often the glue that holds a community together and make our community a better place. Local activities bring people together to build a stronger community. They allow everyone to have a say in shaping the community. Through volunteering, everyone has a voice. 5.3 Staff are committed to enhancing the relationship with community partners by creating an environment of encouragement, facilitation, and learning which would help to ensure that the volunteer experience is fulfilling and productive. Connecting with our Community Training and Development 5.4 Through Community Development, we work alongside people in our community, build relationships with organizations, and identify common concerns. We attempt to create opportunities for the community to learn new skills and by enabling people to act together, help to foster social inclusion and equality. 5.5 Based on feedback from our community partners, staff worked with local trainers to develop an offering of workshops which addressed some training needs and also provided a forum for networking and support among the volunteer community. The following workshops were offered in 2017: x Smart Serve Certification x Accounting 101 for Not -for -Profits x Mental Health First Aid Communication 5.6 From funding opportunities to new legislation, a lot of information becomes available from many different sources that is applicable to the community organizations who offer programs and services in our community. The Community Services Department continues to share information through Clarington Community Connections, a quarterly electronic newsletter that serves to streamline that sharing of information and helps us to better connect with community organizations. Special Events For the Love of Art — Mayor's Gala 5.7 The 5t" annual For the Love of Art — Mayor's Gala occurred Saturday, February 25, 2017 at the Clarington Public Library — Bowmanville Branch. The Mayor's Gala is an evening showcasing art and artists in Clarington through live demonstrations, musical performances and art displayed throughout the venue. The beneficiaries of the Gala, Municipality of Clarington Report CSD -004-18 Page 9 the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington and A Gift of Art Gallery, each received over $21,000. Funds were raised through sponsorships, ticket sales, a silent auction and mystery gift boxes. Clarington Sport & Leisure Fair 5.8 The Clarington Sport & Leisure Fair is an annual event, with a host of community displays offered free of charge to local community groups and sport and leisure providers. The 2017 Clarington Sport & Leisure Fair was held on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at the Diane Hamre Recreation Complex and coincided with a public swim that was offered at no charge for this day. We welcomed close to 40 community groups and hundreds of residents visited throughout the afternoon. Recreation and Parks Month 5.9 Since 2011, the Municipality of Clarington has joined communities across Ontario to celebrate Recreation and Parks Month. It is an opportunity to increase public awareness of the value and benefits of recreation by offering low or no cost activities to our residents. The Community Services Department celebrated by visiting local parks through the Family Fitness Tour, hosted in conjunction with the Clarington Basketball Academy; and offered other activities to engage the community such as Race Across Canada, Toonie Tuesdays, and Free Fitness Fridays. In 2017 participation in the Family Fitness Tour increased by more than three times over previous years through program modifications and increased coordination with community park user groups. Clarington Celebrates Canada's 150th 5.10 July 1, 2017 marked Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation. The Community Services Department coordinated an evening event complete with interactive community displays, jumping castles, musical entertainment, a Canada 150 cake and fireworks. The event received additional funding through the Durham Community Foundation's Community Fund for Canada's 150th as well as sponsorship from Ontario Power Generation. 12th Annual Clarington Mayor's Golf Classic 5.11 The 12th annual Clarington Mayor's Golf Classic was held Thursday, July 6, 2017 at the Newcastle Golf and Country Club with a dinner following golf at the Newcastle Community Hall. The event was another huge success, selling out quickly with over 150 golfers, most from our generous local business community. The 2017 beneficiary, Clarington Project of Oshawa Clarington Community Living, received the net proceeds which totalled almost $28,000. The 13th annual Mayor's Golf Classic is scheduled for Thursday, July 5, 2018 with the Bowmanville Hospital Foundation as the beneficiary. Municipality of Clarington Report CSD -004-18 Page 10 Clarington Blooms 5.12 Clarington Blooms is an annual program celebrating its 19th year. In 2017, in honour of Canada's 150th, the program encouraged the planting of red and white flowers. The program recognizes the residents, businesses, churches and schools in Clarington who put time and effort into making Clarington beautiful and is organized in cooperation with the Bowmanville and Newcastle Horticultural Societies. In 2017, over 230 gardens were nominated and in October close to 100 people attended the recognition ceremony at the Sarah Jane Williams Heritage Centre. Clarington Sports Hall of Fame 5.13 The Clarington Sports Hall of Fame has welcomed over 85 distinguished athletes, teams, and builders since its inception in 2003. In 2017 we proudly welcomed six more inductees. As part of a plan to continue bringing the Clarington Sports Hall of Fame out into the community, the Community Services Department, in partnership with Clarington Museums, are setting up satellite displays of plaques and sports memorabilia at three more recreation facilities in Clarington: Courtice Community Complex, Diane Hamre Recreation Complex and South Courtice Arena. CP Holiday Train 5.14 The CP Holiday Train chugged in to Clarington on Tuesday, November 28, 2017. Through this fun, holiday themed event, three local Clarington based food banks received donations of food and money from both CP and attendees. St. Vincent de Paul, Clarington East Food Bank, and the Salvation Army received $2,500 each from CP Rail and hundreds of pounds of food from show spectators. New Year's Eve Family Celebration 5.15 Clarington rang in the New Year at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex during the 4th annual New Year's Eve Family Celebration. Over 1,000 people took part in the festivities which included public skating, an inflatable obstacle course, face painting, balloon art, carnival games, crafts, and much more. We also welcomed Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue and their family of rescued animals to the event. A nominal fee was charged for public skating; all other activities were offered to the community at no charge. Community Grant Program 5.16 The Community Grant Program was established many years ago with the intent to provide Council with a means to acknowledge and support the efforts of our local volunteer community and not-for-profit agencies that provide services, programs or activities which benefit the community. A maximum amount of $60,000 was available for the 2017 Community Grant Program. Municipality of Clarington Report CSD -004-18 Page 11 5.17 Each year staff invite representatives of local organizations to a community meeting to introduce the upcoming program and to brief applicants on any changes or revisions to the grant program while walking them through the application process. This meeting also provides an opportunity for staff to address any specific questions or concerns applicants may have with their specific application. The 2017 Community Grant meeting was held on January 19, 2017 and was attended by 20 individuals representing 14 community organizations. Community Grant Application Summary Community Grants 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Number of 41 34 35 40 31 Applications Received $34,791 $33,500 $35,000 Dollar Amount $122,497 $102,200 $115,781 $119,874 $97,000 Requested Dollar Amount $54,600 $56,000 $55,500 $60,000 $60,000 Awarded Community Event Sponsorship Program 5.18 In 2016, the Community Services Department introduced a formalized Community Event Sponsorship Program which was approved by Council. In 2017, Council supported 28 events in our community for a total of $35,000. Community Event Sponsorship Program Summary Community Event Sponsorships 2015 2016 2017 Number of Applications Received 34 29 28 Dollar Amount Requested $45,565 $43,810 $48,300 Dollar Amount Awarded $34,791 $33,500 $35,000 6. Older Adult Section 6.1 Since January 1, 2016 the Community Services Department has been providing direct programming for older adults living in Clarington. Programs and special events provide opportunities for older adults to socialize, stay engaged and keep active within the community as both participants and as volunteers. Current programming includes registered programs, drop-in programs, workshops, and special events. Municipality of Clarington Report CSD -004-18 Page 12 Registered Programs 6.2 The Community Services Department offers a large variety of 55+ registered programming. These include active living classes (fitness, yoga, aquafit), general interest classes (art, music, creative writing), and computer classes (iPad, laptop). Programs are offered at multiple locations, including the Courtice Community Complex, Diane Hamre Recreation Complex, Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre, Bowmanville Indoor Soccer facility, and South Courtice Arena. Registered Program/Event Participant Statistics Activity Active Living General Interest Computers Workshops Luncheons Special Events 2016 643 152 184 237 328 647 2017 1,183 187 161 266 642 1,001 Drop-in Activities 6.3 Offering a range of low cost and low commitment drop-in opportunities is an important aspect of older adult programming. We continue to offer a wide range of drop-in activities, including games such as bridge and euchre, to more physically active activities such as table tennis, biking and the very popular sport of pickleball. Drop-in Activity Statistics Activity Euchre Open Activity Open Jam Pickleball Table Tennis Bingo 2016 312 726 147 1,839 141 70 2017 590 957 191 2,482 183 92 Volunteers 6.4 Volunteering provides many benefits to older adults, creating a strong sense of purpose by helping others and maintaining social connections. Volunteers within the Older Adult Centre are a valuable and integral part of programs and special events offered throughout the year. In 2017, 848 volunteer hours were logged by 28 volunteers. Staff are actively recruiting volunteers and the program is expected to expand in the coming years. Municipality of Clarington Report CSD -004-18 Page 13 Special Events 6.5 June is Seniors Month in Ontario. Municipalities are encouraged to hold seniors' month events in order to recognize seniors' accomplishments and contributions to the community. On June 28, 2017, a "Celebrating Seniors Month" barbecue was held at the South Courtice Arena. The no -cost event featured interactive displays from community agencies, live entertainment by Rockin with Elvis, free barbecue, and draw prizes. Over 250 people took part in this event. 6.6 Special events with meals continued to be very popular in 2017. A Winter Wonderland Dinner and Dance was held in February, featuring entertainment by the Lincolnaires. In April, a Country Western dinner and dance was held at the Newcastle Town Hall. Back by popular demand was the Murder Mystery and Fashion Show. Hot luncheons were offered every two weeks, and averaged 20 people. 6.7 A Christmas Luncheon was held on December 14 at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex. Entertainment was provided by Pianoman Craig. A delicious, traditional turkey meal was served. A wonderful time was had by all 160 attendees. 6.8 The Municipality received a grant through the Ontario Seniors Secretariat, and the Older Adults Centres Association of Ontario to host an Older Adult Information and Active Living Fair at the Courtice Community Complex. The event took place on Saturday, November 4. A total of 39 exhibitors (equal mix of non-profit and for-profit) took part in the Trade Show. Educational workshops were scheduled throughout the day. Free healthy snacks and lunch were also provided, along with door prizes. The event was very well received. 7. Facilities Division 7.1 Facility Services is responsible for the operation and maintenance of all Community Services recreation facilities. This includes permitting rentals for arenas, swimming pools, indoor soccer, gymnasium, and multi-purpose room uses. We are also responsible for the concession and vending operations in these facilities. 7.2 In addition to managing our annual capital budget program, we are responsible for all major renovation and construction projects. In 2017 we had one major renovation at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex which will be discussed later in this report. 8. Facilities Permitting 8.1 The facility booking office is located at Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex and is responsible for the majority of facility permits issued by the Department for our indoor recreation facilities. This includes our five ice pads, three indoor pools, lacrosse bowl and the indoor soccer field. As indicated earlier in this report our facility booking staff were part of the implementation team that worked on the transition from our Class Municipality of Clarington Report CSD -004-18 Page 14 registration and facility booking software to the new ACTIVE Net software application. As of September 1 all facility rentals were created using the new system. 8.2 The majority of our facility permits are issued to the many minor sport organizations that directly deliver the programs to their participants. The prime focus is on children and youth activities. Additionally, we assist our sport organizations with any special events they host. 2017 Hourly Ice and Floor Rental Statistics 8.3 Although we are seeing a slight decline in total hours of ice rentals from previous years, the demand for prime season/prime time ice remains very strong. There will be some fluctuation year to year in total hours as the demand for "shoulder" season and late night ice varies. Category 2015 hours 2016 hours 2017 hours Minor Hockey — Boys 5,759 5,676 5,502 Minor Hockey — Girls 2,123 1,976 1,996 Figure Skating 596 665 609 Speed Skating 155 121 106 Adult Hockey 1,129 1,018 1,010 School Boards 218 203 101 Other 772 796 649 Lacrosse / Other Dry Pad 1,143 1,072 1,246 Total 11,895 11,527 11,219 Municipality of Clarington Report CSD -004-18 Page 15 2017 Hourly Swimming Pool Rental Statistics 8.4 As seen in the chart below, the Clarington Swim Club continues to add hours annually to their program. However, this is offset by the variations of daytime swimming lesson rentals by our local school boards. Category 2015 hours 2016 hours 2017 hours Swim Club 535 596 635 School Boards 92 117 59 Other 86 116 84 Total 713 829 778 2017 Hourly Indoor Soccer/Outdoor Lacrosse Rental Statistics 8.5 The rental usage from the Darlington Soccer Club, although down from last year, is greater than it was in 2015. As the prime user of this facility any fluctuation in their registration numbers has a direct impact on our usage data. Staff have been and will continue to develop alternative programs and activities for this indoor field that will increase overall utilization of the field. Category 2015 hours 2016 hours 2017 hours Youth Soccer 889 1,038 989 Adult Soccer 138 138 164 Other 102 101 103 Lacrosse Bowl 153 255 110 Total 1,282 1,532 1,366 Pay -as -You -Go and Complimentary Programming 8.6 Although some activities reflected increases in 2017 the overall attendance is down from previous years. In the past we have seen variances in shinny hockey and will continue to monitor this. Municipality of Clarington Resort CSD -004-18 Paae 16 Category 2015 Attendance 2016 Attendance 2017 Attendance Shinny Hockey (Adult/Youth) 3,102 2,731 2,445 Shinny 55 3,194 4,842 3,071 Skate 55 (complimentary) 5,425 5,034 6,730 Parent & Tot (complimentary) 6,845 7,982 8,031 Indoor Walking Program 6,646 4,871 3,456 Indoor Drop -In Soccer 72 207 169 Total 25,284 25,667 23,902 9. Construction Project Management 9.1 The major project for 2017 was the renovation of the community hall at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex. With a federal grant of $455,000 from the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, this project delivered a significant upgrade to the existing community hall space, an expanded kitchen, renovated public washrooms, a new accessible washroom, an improved open concept main west entrance and exterior landscaping. Since the hall re -opened to the public on July 1, 2017 for our Canada 150th Birthday Celebration, the facility has been very well used both by the Department for programs and services as well as the general public for community and private events. 9.2 Also completed was the engineering work to develop drawings and specifications for the replacement of the concrete arena floor and refrigerated piping for Pad A also at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex. This work was tendered early in 2018 and work is scheduled to commence once the ice is removed at the start of April. The work will continue through the spring and summer and will be completed in time for the start of the 2018/19 ice season in September. 10. Energy Conservation 10.1 In 2017 our total utilities cost was in excess of 1.5M, with hydro being the major contributor at over $1.1 M. Faced with the ongoing increases in energy costs, facilities are always looking for potential conservation opportunities. Although our ability to control the rising costs of these services is a challenge, we remain focused on the annual consumption data in each of our facilities. Municipality of Clarington Resort CSD -004-18 Paae 17 10.2 In October facility staff joined Mayor Foster at the Powering Up Durham Energy Symposium in Ajax. This event included presentations, workshops, a trade show and an awards presentation. Clarington was recognized for the installation of computerized controls and motor drives on the refrigeration plants at South Courtice Arena and Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex. 10.3 In November the installation of a de -oxygenized water system was installed for ice flooding at South Courtice Arena. This technology vacuums oxygen from the water which allows cooler water to be used for flooding the ice surfaces. In addition to the reduced cost for natural gas to heat this water, Clarington also received approval for a $10,000 incentive from Enbridge Gas. 11. Health and Safety 11.1 Workplace health and safety continues to be a top priority for all staff in the Department. In addition to the day to day focus on safety we have developed strong training programs and worked very closely with the Health and Safety Coordinator throughout the year. 11.2 Health and safety remains a key component of our annual staff training programs. In 2017 we had a certified training company provide a one -day Working at Heights program to our full time facility staff. This included a half day classroom session complimented with a half day of hands-on training. Golder Associates was brought in to provide an overview on Confined Space in the workplace as well as mould and bacteria awareness. 11.3 Following the tragedy at an arena in Fernie B.C. we planned a session for our facility operators on ammonia awareness and safety. CIMCO Refrigeration, our refrigeration contactor made a presentation to highlight the dangers and what safety measures are to be used when working in and around an ammonia refrigeration plant. This was followed by a presentation by Deputy Chief Calhoun who discussed the Clarington Fire and Emergency Services protocols when dealing with incidents involving ammonia. This session was also attended by staff from the Orono and Newcastle Memorial Arenas and was well received by all. 12. Concurrence Not Applicable. 13. Conclusion 13.1 The Community Services team is very proud of the work we do on a daily basis to provide the best level of service we can to our community. We continue to see growth in many areas of our programs and services and we will strive to identify new quality recreational opportunities that will promote a healthy lifestyle for our growing and diverse community. Municipality of Clarington Report CSD -004-18 14. Strategic Plan Application Paae 18 The recommendations contained in this report conform to the Strategic Plan. Submitted by. Reviewed by: for Joseph P. Caruana, Andrew C. Allison, B. Comm, LL.B Director of Community Services CAO Staff Contact: George Acorn, Facilities Services Manager, 905-623-3379 ext. 2503 or gacorn@clarington.net and Tracey Leonard, Acting Recreation Services Manager, 905-623- 3379 ext. 2504 or tleonard@clarington.net There are no interested parties to be notified of Council's decision.